"Punch"
magazine was a British illustrated periodical published from 1841 to
1992. The magazine derived its name from "Mr. Punch", the
cynical and abusive character in the early Victorian children's
marionette plays "Punch and Judy". Mr. Punch always carried a
stick which he applied vigorously! "Punch" began as a radical
weekly newspaper and soon evolved into a "must read" journal
of all literary classes. The magazine was known worldwide for its
satirical and invective style. In the nineteenth century it was perhaps
the most influential single journal in Europe for the development of the
cartoonist's and caricaturist's art of satire. Starting in 1888, the
year Wilhelm II ascended the imperial throne in Germany, the satirists
of "Punch" cast a wary eye upon the bellicose Kaiser, whose
public pronouncements, foreign intrigues and strident militarism became
increasingly erratic and pronounced as his reign progressed. Kaiser
Wilhelm II became a regular presence in the publication which
consistently documented the megalomania which was the most salient
feature of his personality.

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1.
Take courage

2.
Well met

3.
India for
the King

4.
The world's
ennemy

5.
God our shield

6.
Let us prey

7.
Solid

8.
The Cossacks

9.
Belgium

10.
At the post
of Honour

11.
For friendship
and Honour

12.
"Culture"

In 1914 - 1916 the
English postcard publisher Jarrold & Sons (London) published a
series of cartoons taken from "Punch" magazine. While most of
the cards in this series wre timely and topical as to events and issues
of the Great War then being fought, Jarrold & Sons also reproduced a
number of cartoons which were originally published 1888 - 1912 tracing
the "history" of Wilhelm. These show that the publishers of
"Punch" had been more astute prophets of the conflict to come
than had been the British government and het diplomats. In concluding we
would like to point out some of the "historical" cartoons the
series includes. The cartoon on card no. 13 was published in October
1888 and shows the young and newly enthroned Kaiser being warned about
the course of "Caesarism" by Germany's preeminent diplomat
Prince Bismarck. The cartoon on card no. 14, drawn by the famous
cartoonist John Tenneil, wash published in March 1890 on the occasion of
Wilhelm dismissing Prince Bismarck, architect of the German Empire, as
Chancellor.

13.
A wise
warning

14.
Dropping
the pilot

15.
Jack-in-the-box

16.
The modern
Alexander

17.
The story of
Fidgety Wilhelm

18.
A new role

This particular
cartoon created a tremendous stir and is of historical significance.
"Punch" published it two days before the German Imperial
Government announced Bismarck's resignation. The story is that Wilhelm
II had written his grandmother, Britain's Queen Victoria, informing her
of his decision to break with Bismarck. Tenniel was at Buckingham Palace
having tea with the Queen when she let slip this piece of information.
Tenniel then drew and published his famous cartoon "Dropping the
Pilot" and "Punch" magazine achieved a spectacular news
coup.